FBI trains at Carver Courts

By Wes Wolfe / Staff writer

Published: Friday, January 17, 2014 at 07:49 PM.

FBI SWAT team training at Carver Courts made for some interesting sights and sounds over the week, wrapping up Friday.

“They had maybe a dozen guys out there – they spent the whole morning setting up,” Kinston Housing Authority Director Rhonda Abbott said about the beginning of training Wednesday. “They had their equipment and they were just sort of walking around the property, so they were very visible to the residents.

“There were residents outside – they saw them. I went back after lunch on Wednesday and that’s when they started their training. All their training was with blanks – there was not real ammunition.”

Agents worked in and around empty, fenced-in buildings that have been scheduled for demolition.

Shelley Lynch, public affairs specialist with the FBI field office in Charlotte, said the bureau regularly conducts trainings in vacant buildings available for use.

“Tactical training is necessary to ensure that our agents are ready to respond in an emergency situation, especially one where public safety could be at risk,” Lynch said in a statement.

Abbott said the Kinston Department of Public Safety trained at the same buildings the week before.

FBI SWAT team training at Carver Courts made for some interesting sights and sounds over the week, wrapping up Friday.

“They had maybe a dozen guys out there – they spent the whole morning setting up,” Kinston Housing Authority Director Rhonda Abbott said about the beginning of training Wednesday. “They had their equipment and they were just sort of walking around the property, so they were very visible to the residents.

“There were residents outside – they saw them. I went back after lunch on Wednesday and that’s when they started their training. All their training was with blanks – there was not real ammunition.”

Agents worked in and around empty, fenced-in buildings that have been scheduled for demolition.

Shelley Lynch, public affairs specialist with the FBI field office in Charlotte, said the bureau regularly conducts trainings in vacant buildings available for use.

“Tactical training is necessary to ensure that our agents are ready to respond in an emergency situation, especially one where public safety could be at risk,” Lynch said in a statement.

Abbott said the Kinston Department of Public Safety trained at the same buildings the week before.

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.